I’d surprised her.

Good. I needed to shake things up. It was the first step in my plan to make her realize we were good together. And that I was home to stay.

I’d run like a damn fool. My career and my need to get out of this town had superseded any sense I’d had. Instead, I’d hurt the person I loved the most in this whole damn world. I’d hit the bottle hard on more than a few nights with memories of her shattered eyes following me into dreams.

Because I was an asshole. A selfish prick who didn’t know what I had. It had taken way too long to figure it out, and I was going to have to play dirty to fix it. Speaking with the realtor tomorrow would clinch that deal. Then she’d see I was completely serious.

For now, that particular bombshell would be enough to keep her guessing.

Her watch beeped and she finally blinked. “I have to get back.”

“You didn’t eat your salad.”

Her gaze shifted to her plate and then back up to me. “Right.”

I stood up and went over to the girl at the counter. “Hey, can we get a to-go container for her salad? And two more of those cake pop things for me.” She rang me up with a smile and I brought over two bags. One containing my chocolatey goodness, and one for Fee.

She sat back in her chair. “What’s going on, Myles?”

“I told you. I’m back to—”

She held up her hand. “Yeah, got that part. Please don’t say it again.”

“Why?” I lowered my face to line up with hers. “Afraid?” I dropped my gaze to focus on her full lower lip. It was scrunched to the side. She was biting the inside of her cheek again. She did it all the time when she was trying to choose her words wisely.

I cupped her face and brushed my thumb over her lower lip. “Just spit it out, Fee. I’m good with whatever you have to say.”

She frowned and backed away from me. “I don’t understand what game you’re playing, but I don’t like it. Not to mention you’re supposed to be in some Midwestern state right now. What the hell is going on?”

I straightened. Illinois, to be exact. “I’m here.”

“You’re not supposed to be.”

“So you keep saying.” I didn’t want to tip my hand yet. Tomorrow would be soon enough when I showed her the house I was buying for me—for us. Someday. I knew that was my endgame, but it seemed as if it was going to take some convincing for her to get with my current program.

I had enough money to retire for the rest of my life. I could find something else to do to fill my days. Or hell, I could be a stay-at-home dad and let her do whatever the hell she wanted.

That idea had way more merit.

Getting her to come around to my way of thinking was going to take time, but I was a patient man. I’d been figuring all this out for the last year. I hadn’t really had a true focus until I’d seen her kissing that Ken doll.

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t had other boyfriends over the years, but I’d never actually witnessed her touching another guy. I hated it. Stalk-across-the-room-and-rip-his-head-off hated it.

It was the last thing I’d needed to make my decision. Add in the road and all of the endless days waiting to get onstage. Two hours to enjoy playing—and even then, only half the time.

The band and I had started growing apart before we’d even left for our first tour. And one tour turned into another as we became part of the machine. Addicted to the money and the high of the stage, I’d let myself drift. Until even the stage wasn’t doing it for me any longer.

That’s when I’d known it was time to get out.

Get the hell back to her.

All the dreams I’d had meant jack shit without Felicity in my life. I knew that now. And now I was back to correct it.

“Let’s get you back to the bar. Evidently, your little buzzer said time’s up.” I shook my head. “Since when do you even wear a watch?”

“A lot of things have changed.” She licked her lips and straightened her shoulders. Unfortunately, that did amazing things for her breasts. Keeping my eyes on her face was nearly impossible. Nearly. “Right, anyway. I do need to get back. Not that he can do much if I don’t, but I wouldn’t leave them in the lurch. I love Tristan and his family way too much.”

I stood and unhooked her jacket from the back of her chair and held it up for her.

She stared at me. I knew she wanted to take it and do it herself, but she blew out an annoyed breath and turned around.

I slid the canvas jacket up her arms and over her shoulders. When I dragged her braid out of her collar, her familiar scent made me shut my damn eyes. It was either that or lean down and take a sniff. The silky tail at the end of her braid curled around my finger before I let it fall to her shoulder. “We’ll get you back.” My voice was deep and raspy, but I was only human.

Even worse, I was a human who had gone without for months. Losing myself in nameless women got old quickly. Especially when none of them could compare with Fee. It was useless to try at this point.

Sap? Maybe.

Happy to know exactly where I belonged? Absolutely. And that only strengthened my resolve.

I took her bag from the table and led her to the door. “Why are you leaving the bar if you love them so much?”

“I have my own business.”

Intrigued, I opened the door for her and we fell into step on the street as we always did. It was rare for a woman to match me in stride. To actually match me in so many ways she felt like she was put on this earth just for me. “That’s amazing. Do you have your own office or something?”

She shook her head. “I do accounting and payroll for a dozen or so businesses. I can work from wherever I want now.”

My gait slowed. “Oh?”

Anywhere? Where was this plan before? Fee had been adamant about staying in Baltimore. All the discussion we’d had over the years always put us squarely on opposite sides of the table. Me, looking for the open road, her for stability.

“Yes. I had to figure out a way to make my degree work for me. Being trapped in an office did not work.”

I stopped on the street. “Since when?”

She swung around to face me. “A lot of things have changed since you left, Myles.” She narrowed her gaze. “Then again you may have known a little bit about me if you’d cared enough to get in contact.”

“Oh, I did.”

“One phone call wasn’t enough. Not after the way you left things.” She headed for the pub once more and I huffed out a breath before jogging after her.

If she only knew how that night haunted me, but there’d been no room for the confusing and twisty feelings I had for her. I’d worked hard to get the hell out of this town. To prove to myself and everyone else that I wasn’t some going nowhere kid with a useless college degree.

A BFA in creative writing wasn’t going to do much for me. Officially, I could write a song? Or a story? Please. I’d gone to college solely to make my mother happy. The only place I’d wanted to be was behind my keyboard.

At least until I walked away from Felicity.

“I know.” It had killed me to stay away from her. I thought it was what she needed. For a time, it had been exactly what I needed. Not to be reminded. Not to stare at exactly who and what I’d always wanted and hear myself push her away.

She stilled with her hand on the door. She didn’t turn and look at me, but at least she was listening. I hoped.

I caught her arm at the elbow. “I’m sorry, Fee. It took me a little time to figure shit out, but I’m here now.”

She swung the door open, still not looking at me. “I still don’t know why.”

“I’ll explain all of it tomorrow. I have something to show you. Can I pick you up at ten tomorrow?” I slid my hand down to her hip, then around her waist to draw her back around to face me. I could see that she wasn’t on board. I needed her to give me this shot. More than I even knew when I’d landed at the airport last night. “Don’t say no.”

She placed her hand on my chest. Her fingers twisted into the chains I wore habitually, even offstage. They were as much a part of me as my hair and eyes. She fingered the eighth note she’d given me for my birthday before my band had been even a thought.

She’d believed in me from the very beginning.

I closed my hand over hers, cupping the charm between us. “Can’t you give me another chance?”

“You’re ruining everything,” she whispered.

“I’m not ruining anything. Don’t you see? I’m back to fix it. I promise.” I clutched her hand tighter, cutting her off from whatever she was going to say. Hesitation dimmed her dark eyes. I rushed on. “Tomorrow. That’s all I ask.”

She blew out a breath. “Fine. Tomorrow. But I’m not at my old apartment anymore.”

“Hey, Felicity. I’m glad I caught you before you left.”

We both stiffened at the voice over our shoulder.

“Ailis. Um, hi. Yeah, I’m on for a few more hours.”

I nodded at the pretty redhead. “Hi.”

Ailis glanced between us, trying valiantly to hide a smile. “Take your time.”

“It’s not like that,” Felicity quickly explained.

“It is like that,” I said with a grin. “Exactly like that.”

“Right.” She slipped by us to get inside the bar. “See you inside, Felicity.”

Felicity slammed her fist into my gut. “Go.”

I staggered back a step and laughed. I smoothed my hand over my flyaway curls. “Where am I picking you up?”

“I’m at my mom’s house—well, now my sister’s. Long story there.”

We’d spent many an evening on the tiny back porch when we didn’t want to end the night. “I think I remember where that is.”

“Shut up.” She sailed through the door. “I expect all my questions answered tomorrow.”

I didn’t bother to reply. She’d already left me in the doorway to the pub. A stream of people made the decision to follow her inside a moot one. Just as well, I had a million things to do before tomorrow.

Just one day to make her realize just how good we were together.

Piece of cake.

Mostly.